Switching across...

We are now crossing over to our dedicated live match blog ahead of kick-off at Anfield.

Click this link to go there for all the latest build-up and team news, before live updates from 8pm.

Up the Reds.

Daniel Sturridge of Liverpool celebrates scoring the opening goal with Manager Brendan Rodgers during the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield on September 01, 2013 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

17:24

In Klopp we truss

17:07

United squad for tonight

The Manchester Evening News have named United’s squad for tonight.

Well, they haven’t actually named it - Louis van Gaal has done that, one presumes - but they have relayed the information to us all.

Jurgen Klopp manager of Liverpool and Louis van Gaal manager of Manchester United shake hands before the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield on January 16, 2016 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

16:57

The Battle of Britain

Remember the goal from McManaman at Celtic Park?

Bedlam.

16:42

De Gea; United want an away goal

Not exactly an earth-shattering revelation from David De Gea, but the United goalkeeper wants his side to pick up a goal at Anfield tonight.

He even suggests it could be more important than a clean sheet.

We want to keep a clean sheet but maybe it’s more important to score an away goal – that’s the key.

But it’s always difficult against Liverpool. We’ve won the last four games against them but it’s a new competition and they’re playing better now than before: they press high and they have a lot of good players.

Every game against Liverpool is special, especially when you win. You can feel the atmosphere and it’s amazing to play at Anfield in a United shirt.

It’s a derby between maybe the two greatest teams in the history of the English game and we need to do everything to win.

Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea celebrates his side's second goal during the Barclays Premier League match at Goodison Park, Liverpool. (Photo: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)

Klopp slammed for style

“When you implement a more demanding pressing game, the bodies of the players need time to adapt. But if Jurgen Klopp had analysed the situation when he started, he’d have realised they were about to play the most games of anyone in Europe. He implemented a more demanding pressing game in a period when players had less time to recover.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was in a cheerful mood during an open training session at Melwood ahead of his side's clash with Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League at Anfield on Thursday. Photo by James Maloney

15:09

Handover

Right, that’s all from me for today.

Here comes the Bees to keep you company for a while before we cross over to tonight’s matchblog.

Enjoy.

14:58

Klopp's 'classic mistake'

Rent-a-quote coach Raymond Verheijen has told Jurgen Klopp he went and made a “classic mistake”, upon taking over at Anfield - implementing his high-intensity game far too soon...

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was in a cheerful mood during an open training session at Melwood ahead of his side's clash with Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League at Anfield on Thursday. Photo by James Maloney

“Jurgen Klopp has hopefully learned a valuable lesson at Liverpool,” he told Omnisport. “They implemented the style they were successful with in the first few years at Dortmund. In the last few years they had a lot of injuries and little success, so you have to put their achievement into perspective. But he’s a top coach, you can’t deny that.

“But they made the classic mistake, like Louis van Gaal [at Manchester United] – they implemented their approach irrespective of the circumstances.

“Liverpool used to play a passing game with Brendan Rodgers. When you have possession, you spend less energy. So the playing style was less demanding and the players adapted to that.

“When you implement a more demanding pressing game, the bodies of the players need time to adapt. But if Jurgen Klopp had analysed the situation when he started, he’d have realised they were about to play the most games of anyone in Europe. He implemented a more demanding pressing game in a period when players had less time to recover.”

14:40

McClaren learns of Newcastle departure

My god, what a club.

Good luck, Rafa.

14:31

'You would come off the field covered in bruises'

If you want an insight into what it’s like to play in Liverpool v Man United clashes, then look no further than Ronnie Whelan.

The Irishman scored a famous winner to help beat United at Wembley in 1983.

He spoke to Dominic King, over at the Daily Mail: “I got wound up before games, so much so that I would nearly always be sick, but it was worse when we played United. The nervous energy just floods through you. I’d have to get out of the house, be away from my family. I just wanted to be on my own and prepare for what was coming.

“You would come off covered in bruises. You would be kicked; you could expect to be booted all over the park, really. I look at how much time midfielders have now to look around and pass. We never got a second. Once you got the ball, someone would barrel into you.”

“The Magpies, after all, look destined for the drop, their squad a disparate, desperate mix of the talentless and the demotivated. They’ve won six league games all season, and lost five of their last six. The only team below them are the pitiful Aston Villa.

“Their owner is reviled by the supporters, who have long since lost faith in the direction their club is heading in. Around 50,000 of them still make their way to home games, but do so with trepidation rather than anticipation.

In short, it’s a damaged club. One to avoid if you’re looking to rebuild your career and reputation.